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I so love this. Too often we get triumphant account of all that went right. It's "good" to see that most experience also make mistakes and so I don't feel too bad about the slew of mistakes I have made in my travels and setup!! Thank you for being a human! EDIT: Your videos have consistently been golden in terms of helpfulness and keeping the focus on that which is essential: quality of living while on the road. Thank you!!
Happy to hear, and I plan to keep doing exactly the same honest advice and what did and didn't work, with no intention of just trying to sell junk people don't need.
Agreed. I am on Mk2 of my build out in a much smaller vehicle and will be changing it yet again due to the arrival of a new tent and different packing needs (and we don’t push ours like Dan does his from a live out of it perspective).
Oh I can tell you, those drawers are not an Australian product. I know at least 3 different companies that sell the exact same ones in Europe (easy to recognize with the diagonal handle). Most likely the cheapest generic Aliexpress product ready to be rebranded by anyone wanting to create a brand with a range of overland products.
For clothes organization I use color coded dry bags, the kind hikers use. Nothing is worse than a big dark bag with everything just loose in it. Basically a bag for shirts, bag for pants-shorts, etc. etc. Also have specific gear bags for say cold weather where hats, gloves, base layers all go. Been working so far and effective at keeping the grit and sand out.
A few things I learned on my Gladiator 1) my bed tonneau cover came with foam rubber strips on the bed-body to seal the tailgate, which surprisingly really do keep water and dust out. 2) Learned the license plate lights were blinding the backup camera at night. 3) found that two sliding bed trays with plastic tubs worked best. You can even build homemade trays on the cheap using overhead garage door tracks, rollers and wood. Saw another guy use a slippery bed mat (Loadmaster) and just daisy-chain his tubs with cords so they all pull forward together.
if thinking drawers for your next rig, check out Drifta (who i guess you know by now after a year down under), no roller bearings which take up a lot of space and get clogged with dust, lightweight compared to steel and are extremely well made and engineered.Camping and overloading is about comfort vs weight vs space...theres always a compromise, its just which compromise your choose or what works for you
When we did our lap in a d22 Navara, my wife thought I was nuts when I suggested laundry baskets on the back seat rather than bags Turned out to be a great decision as they were easy to access and easy to take in and out when needed
Re: back up lighting. Pop out the OEM incandescent lamps and replace with LEDs. Huge difference for not much money at all. Of course nothing can beat a dedicated rear facing light bar or lamp but it sure works for me.
I watched you build that Gladiator. I loved what you did except I would have chosen a hard topper. I agree with the Gladiator needing a better backup light. There is an aftermarket LED backup light that installs where the factory bumper reflector is. You can get it with a wiring harness that plugs into the factory wiring. I can’t wait to see the new build. Good content Dan.
I actually like a lot of placement of your stuff. Maybe a better drawer system out back. The one big game changer i think you could have done is have side access flaps to your canopy closer to the cab. You could have installed some good clothes drawers right there.
Dan has answered my comment to this effect previously with his list of reasons why he chose to not have side access. I respect his “you do you” attitude so I’m not having a dig, but having a canvas canopy on a tub backed Ute myself I can’t imagine not having side access and having to crawl over everything or put in drawers just to be able to get to the back of the tray. It’s why you see every fibreglass canopy with gull wing side windows. It just makes all that space so much more useful. Glad to see he gave the Ute a red hot go though and I’ve enjoyed watching him try out different solutions. I’m yet to find a good way of dealing with clothes and not having the backseat end up as a total tip by the end of a trip.
@Alan Livingston yes, I guess having a pick up for as long as I have, i've had time to learn that access to the front of the bed is critical. If you have a hard shell gull wings are great. If soft top, roll up flaps would be ideal.
Have had fiberglass and aluminum caps only having experience the difference between contractor windows on the side and not having them, I choose to have them whenever possible. Even if you can't reach everything from the side having that reach in is so important. It's fine to try not having it too. Everyone set up is different and what they're willing to put up with. A pickup is always a compromise, as is SUV.
Here's my idea for pickup expedition vehicles. It only works for one person, but anyway ... sleep in the back seat of the cab. No, not some funky diagonal thing like some people are building, but straight across the back seat. But how? It's not long enough for most people. You remove, modify, and/or replace one of the back doors to turn it into a slider/extender system. I guess it would be on rails and it would slide out somehow. What do you think? Do you think such an extender could be built?
... does that mean your feet are sticking out wider than the vehicle? How do you make that waterproof? and mosquito proof? and bear and people proof? If we're building a vehicle for just one person, a pickup is massive overkill anyway. Get a Wrangler or 4runner or similar and sleep in the back of that without modifying anything.
@@TheRoadChoseMe Yeah, I know. Let's start by imagining something professionally fabricated. It has rails that pull out. It has a gasket around it same as a regular door for sealing. When it pulls out the space is expanded with canvas, similar to a pop-up camper or rooftop tent. The canvas is sewn and professionally attached to both sides. It is as waterproof as any rooftop tent. Maybe a little awning or roof goes over it to sheet water away. Bears are somewhat of a problem but there could be some guards for extra protection and the bear still has to get through the canvas. Presumably you have bear spray and a weapon in the car with you for protection, and you can escape out the opposite door if you have to (thus trapping the bear in your truck, hah!!!). I see it as waterproof, bug proof, and bear proof as a rooftop tent. Buying a 4Runner is an option, but there are reasons I have for exploring other ideas. It would be nice if there was something like this you could buy as a kit, and then when you want to sell the truck, you reverse the process, remove it, but the original door back on. It's fully reversible. I see it as a module. You just pop the door(s) off and put this thing in there. It's almost like having a DOT sleeper berth, but it goes inside the cab instead of on the bed.
@@TheRoadChoseMe To understand the motivations better, here's some conversations that go on. Me: I'm gonna build a sleeping platform in the Mazda CX-5. Wife. No, no. That's my car. You can't do anything to my car. Me. No, you don't understand. The sleeping platform is removable. Wife: It's my car. Me. I paid for the car. Wife. It's my car. Me: Okay, fine. I'll put a Project M on the RAM. Wife: No, no. I want to be able to use the truck to haul things and go to the beach. Me: If the Mazda is "your" car, doesn't that mean the RAM is "my" truck. Wife: No, it's my truck. Me. I paid for the truck. Wife: Mine. Me: Okay, fine. I'll buy a 4Runner. Wife: No, I don't want you to buy something you won't use very often. Just rent something. Me: Well, if I'm gonna rent something, I might as well just stay in hotels. What's the use.
On a VW Van I once used an aftermarket red fog light as a back up light - worked quite well, and the red light does help with your night vision. To be switched on, off course, not activated by the gear lever.
I appreciate the insight and appreciate the candid comments on the gear. It is probably one of the aspects of overlanding that everyone faces-there is no "perfect" solution!
I think a full size SUV is the best way to live in a vehicle. Pickups are great for hauling loads and possible a camper but strictly speaking, living half inside the vehicle and half out makes things a bit awkward.
It's certainly a very good option Doug, but doesn't give much living space. Would you add a RTT or pop-up roof, or just sleep in the back and have no standing room?
Ah would have thought Kings drawers were heavy and a bit crappy? There are all sorts of options for drawers that are lighter and better built but as the saying goes you can choose from good, cheap and fast but only get to pick two. I hate drawers for the exact reasons stated, heavy, expensive and permanent. I’ve always gone for Wolf Packs and canvas bags. Lightweight, strong, easy to remove and not expensive
I've similar issues with my 130. Having so many different sections to the vehicle is the main issue for me especially in the winter. I think the ultimate solution would be a pop top camper like Globecamper. Unfortunately they are super expensive so I think I'll be building one myself.
Love your lessons learned. The more I go out and experience this hobby the more I learn. I normally go weekends. 1-3 nights. Did 10 days out in Moab/ Colorado this summer. Learned a lot and messed up a bunch. Tazer programmer kills the license plate lights when backing up to help with that issue. After 3 months now with the aev suspension I’m in love with the setup. So much more concert and capability over the factory rubicon suspension.
Thank you for this nice video full of tips and "thinkabouts" . Personally I 'm not convinced on the pickup model as an overland vehicle but I respect your choice. Best Regards, David.
I'm far from convinced too David - that's why I got one, so I could learn all of the pros and cons first hand and then make a decision on my next overland vehicle.
XO has experience packing as a team. Each member has an alu-box and they have a "flight bag" for connections. A travel partner might need to have less stripes on their shoulder than you.
Love these lessons, good food for thought! Building a pickup as we speak, I've made some different choices (mainly budget related), but overall our goals seem very similar. If you want your water tank to go down below where the spare tyre is, you should be able to fit the spare above the drawers in the bed. Main problem would be getting to them when you do get a flat, but I've solved that by having side access pannels in my canvas canopy. My setup: 210L diesel and 85L watertank in the back of the bed, spare parts and tyres fit above that. Covered it in canvas canopy and put a cooking box in the front of the canopy. As soon as I drop the tailgate, I've got access to all of the cooking suplies (no drawers needed). My canopy frame is load bearing (actualy its the same tube as my rollcage x.x), so I've put a (softshell) rooftop tent on top of that. The great part is, that the rooftop tent doesn't extend above the roofline (defender 130), as the canopy didn't need to be high to start with. Main downdside is that I cannot fit a batwing awning, as the canopy frame ends to low (and the tent rainfly irons extend out significantly (eezi awn jazz)), but if you went for a hybrid tent (like the iKamper roofnest) you would be able to fit a batwing next to that. Shameless plug! steinar.offroad on instagram, feel free to hit me up if you got questions (goes for anyone reading this ofcourse). Anyway, thanks for the vid, you are a huge inspiration.
Use a steel square tubing attached to the roof rack to move the batwing. Can't use aluminum due to fatigue limit issue. But this is a hell of lever, so requires an engineered design to avoid tearing the roof rack off.
thanks for posting, your comments about drawers is considered. you might want to check out our video on saving weight and space with 4wd/vans, for us we solved the same concerns with a unique drawer system.
Good review of what you did and didn't like as well. As a owner of 2 different pickups and few XJ's and a Wrangler to now a Gladiator, I didn't figure drawer's are a good thing. I use HD plastic boxes (stackable tool boxs) that are removable. The clothing situation is a issue still too for just myself I've been using dry bags for mine some I've been using for 25 years heavy duty but last and I can tie down on roof rack.
About the drawers, I have a JLUR and was looking to put in one big drawer. I was eyeing one of the more expensive ones from one of the better know companies. My question is this: is the quality issue with your drawers because you got a budget draw system or is it just an issue with drawers in general?
It's a bit of both. Drawers are always going to add weight, and they aren't always volume efficient, but higher end drawers reduce those problems. Using wood or aluminium instead of steel can save you a fair bit of weight, and drawers that use something like Teflon slides have a lot less wasted space than bearings.
The only one I would call a mistake is the awning. And that really stems from the ragtopper. It's always been something I've disliked about the build. But it got you through so it's not a failure.
I think the other problem which doesn't help access to the tray is that there is no side access. One of the best things with a hard canopy is being able to open up side hatches and get easy access to the side and deeper parts of the tray. A hard canopy also solves your issue with not being able to put things on the top
Side access is an interesting one - with the larger tires and lift, it would have been impossible for me to reach over the side of the bed to get stuff off the bottom without leaning heavily on the side of the Jeep.. which means I'm covered in mud. Katie wouldn't have been able to do it at all. So while it sounds great, I think in reality it wouldn't have helped any.
Hi Dan. If u go down the custom ute build again. May I suggest a flat bed tray instead of a tub. In my set up I have 240 litres of under tray fuel storage. 120litres of under tray water storage. Under tray side mount tool boxes and an under tray rear access slide out draw. This leaves the back of the tray for what ever use u want. In my case I've built an aluminium frame to mount a roof top tent. Which is also strong enough to support a 270° awning and shower cubical ( also awning style ). I have left my tray open ( as it suits me atm ). But it could then be enclosed to make for a living space.
Sounds like most of your problems would be fixed with a tray canopy sadly they are super expensive. Regarding drawers, as you say they are heavy but I have always avoided them as it would prevent the lid being used as a table because the drawers need that space to open. In my Amarok with tub canopy (came with the vehicle) I just use plastic tubs and access through the windows and do my cooking on the gate which works pretty well. Also regarding the awning, if you want to save some GVM look into the Snow Peak hexa tarp. They are huge, easy to put up and only weigh a few kilos. I love mine so much that my ARB awning is in the garage collecting dust and best of all I don't need anything attached to the roof anymore.
The gladiator is a excellent platform. I ha e o e that's built . It looks like all the mistakes are yours for sure. You need to start that built from scratch
I just spent a year driving it 60,000kms around Australia living in it full time. It has been a huge success, and a fantastic adventure. The opposite of a failure in fact. Now it's time for something new & different.
It is interesting to me the problems that you list with the pick-up tub. In North America, tubs are by far the norm. We don’t tend to live out of touring rigs like Aussies do. I have a question. Wouldn’t the tried and true tray and canopy setup work better and answer your concerns? I suspect it comes down to $$ being realistic. Here, in Canada, a Mits Alloy set up imported from Australia is about the same price as an A-Liner camper trailer, so it isn’t cheap. I wouldn’t do one pure;y for that reason. I wonder if a metal cap (vs canvas) with hinged doors on the side would work well? Water tank and pump could be at the front by the headboard and jerry cans and other bulky things could be accessed from the side with stacked tubs beside the fridge for storage. Just guessing here - I lack the experience to offer anything other than theoretical thoughts.
I think that kind of setup works fine for a "live outside" type setup, but for all those $$$ it gives zero inside living space to escape the weather or the bugs. I personally don't think that is justifiable.
Without a doubt, though I would have spent as much money on that as I did on the whole Australia expedition.. so in reality I'd still be at work saving money and there wouldn't be an Australian expedition!
As always, an excellent and transparent of your various builds....pros and cons. You might have answered this question before: Did you consider the AluCab / Goose Gear system? They have an awesome water tank that is placed in the bed by the rear seats. Thanks.
I did, but it's extremely heavy, expensive and hard to get here in Australia. During my build I think the waitlist was about 2 years... so I'd still be waiting right now!
@@TheRoadChoseMe Wow.....didn't realize about the wait time. Give you credit as to how you calculate the trade offs on budget and weight and more importantly, what makes sense.
The number one priority is actually going on the expedition, everything else is secondary. So for me, I have to keep the budget to something I can realistically afford, otherwise there is no massive adventure!
That is why my Overland equipment is my old backpacking and car camping equipment. It's already made for living Outdoors it's just not always as convenient to bring out and put back. Your videos inspire me. Thank you for all your videos!
I didn't film the build in great detail, there are a couple of shots of it in basically my first ever video: near the end czcams.com/video/4sLy5NEr-Hg/video.html
Any reason u didn't go with a tray and a canopy. Sounds like that would of solved Most of your problems.from what I've seen some alloy trays are lighter then factory tubs .I just missed u in cairns seen the Ute but couldn't stop l.
So these things you regret… are they specific to the type of vehicle you chose and it didn’t fit the vehicle or these are things you would not want in any vehicle? Obviously your regrets are based on the specific vehicle you chose which happens to be a pickup truck instead of a standard SUV so wondering if the regrets are based on your vehicle choice and what you tried to fit in there as mods did not work out as you expected when compared to your Wrangler or traditional SUV vs a pickup or as you Aussies call it, Ute lol
Absolutely, most of these are due to my lack of experience with pickups, and my not understanding how important the organization of the bed would be. I got one so I could learn, and learn I did!
@@TheRoadChoseMe Ah ok thanks. I was wondering if it was the vehicle choice to the options you chose you regretted or in general for any vehicle. Like your awning… that maybe a vehicle type choice problem.
The awning itself is fantastic, I just mounted it in the wrong place which was a cascading result of the canopy I designed and had built. Many times small choices turn into larger consequences that are not easy to see from the outset, and I hope everyone can learn from my mistakes so they don't have to make the same ones!
@@TheRoadChoseMe Thx Dan. Yeah, your learning experience will definitely be valuable to the people who make the choices you made and what glitches you run into. Great videos from Australia btw.
Anyone not on their "first rodeo" in terms of setting up a touring rig, should be acutely aware that cheap drawers equates to too much weight (due to steel) and poor quality. Unclear on the reasoning for tainting all aussie made heavy duty drawers with what appear to be Chinese made Kings drawers (the cheapest on the market). As per the title of the video you've learned your lessons yet you're blaming a product which is clearly at the bottom end of the market. Maybe time for some further contemplation...Thanks for the content. Cheers
It's interested you would say that - after about 100,000 miles through 55 countries around the world I had never used or needed drawers before. So I was a beginner in that sense when I got to Australia, and had tons to learn. That's the main reason I got a pickup actually, so I could learn.
Your first whole point.. is basically the gladiator is a shit design. Its WAY too long, a typically US mistake making things to big. You wouldnt have the issue with a normal ute.
This has been a great series Dan, but we have to get a boomerang lesson before you leave Oz. 🪃 I’m sure Sandy will be happy to get out of storage when you get back to Canada.👍
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I so love this. Too often we get triumphant account of all that went right. It's "good" to see that most experience also make mistakes and so I don't feel too bad about the slew of mistakes I have made in my travels and setup!! Thank you for being a human! EDIT: Your videos have consistently been golden in terms of helpfulness and keeping the focus on that which is essential: quality of living while on the road. Thank you!!
Happy to hear, and I plan to keep doing exactly the same honest advice and what did and didn't work, with no intention of just trying to sell junk people don't need.
Agreed. I am on Mk2 of my build out in a much smaller vehicle and will be changing it yet again due to the arrival of a new tent and different packing needs (and we don’t push ours like Dan does his from a live out of it perspective).
Oh I can tell you, those drawers are not an Australian product. I know at least 3 different companies that sell the exact same ones in Europe (easy to recognize with the diagonal handle).
Most likely the cheapest generic Aliexpress product ready to be rebranded by anyone wanting to create a brand with a range of overland products.
For clothes organization I use color coded dry bags, the kind hikers use. Nothing is worse than a big dark bag with everything just loose in it. Basically a bag for shirts, bag for pants-shorts, etc. etc. Also have specific gear bags for say cold weather where hats, gloves, base layers all go. Been working so far and effective at keeping the grit and sand out.
From watching the gladiator , it's off road performance can't even be questioned.
The only thing would be long term durability..
A few things I learned on my Gladiator 1) my bed tonneau cover came with foam rubber strips on the bed-body to seal the tailgate, which surprisingly really do keep water and dust out. 2) Learned the license plate lights were blinding the backup camera at night. 3) found that two sliding bed trays with plastic tubs worked best. You can even build homemade trays on the cheap using overhead garage door tracks, rollers and wood. Saw another guy use a slippery bed mat (Loadmaster) and just daisy-chain his tubs with cords so they all pull forward together.
if thinking drawers for your next rig, check out Drifta (who i guess you know by now after a year down under), no roller bearings which take up a lot of space and get clogged with dust, lightweight compared to steel and are extremely well made and engineered.Camping and overloading is about comfort vs weight vs space...theres always a compromise, its just which compromise your choose or what works for you
I've got Drifta drawers in my Wrangler, they have great build quality and super light. I wouldn't trust myself to DIY to the same quality lol
When we did our lap in a d22 Navara, my wife thought I was nuts when I suggested laundry baskets on the back seat rather than bags
Turned out to be a great decision as they were easy to access and easy to take in and out when needed
Those Titan drawers are cheap chinese made ones. Plenty of good light Aussie drawer systems available like Tanami 4wd for example.
Re: back up lighting. Pop out the OEM incandescent lamps and replace with LEDs. Huge difference for not much money at all. Of course nothing can beat a dedicated rear facing light bar or lamp but it sure works for me.
I watched you build that Gladiator. I loved what you did except I would have chosen a hard topper. I agree with the Gladiator needing a better backup light. There is an aftermarket LED backup light that installs where the factory bumper reflector is. You can get it with a wiring harness that plugs into the factory wiring. I can’t wait to see the new build. Good content Dan.
I actually like a lot of placement of your stuff. Maybe a better drawer system out back. The one big game changer i think you could have done is have side access flaps to your canopy closer to the cab. You could have installed some good clothes drawers right there.
Dan has answered my comment to this effect previously with his list of reasons why he chose to not have side access. I respect his “you do you” attitude so I’m not having a dig, but having a canvas canopy on a tub backed Ute myself I can’t imagine not having side access and having to crawl over everything or put in drawers just to be able to get to the back of the tray. It’s why you see every fibreglass canopy with gull wing side windows. It just makes all that space so much more useful.
Glad to see he gave the Ute a red hot go though and I’ve enjoyed watching him try out different solutions. I’m yet to find a good way of dealing with clothes and not having the backseat end up as a total tip by the end of a trip.
@Alan Livingston yes, I guess having a pick up for as long as I have, i've had time to learn that access to the front of the bed is critical. If you have a hard shell gull wings are great. If soft top, roll up flaps would be ideal.
Have had fiberglass and aluminum caps only having experience the difference between contractor windows on the side and not having them, I choose to have them whenever possible. Even if you can't reach everything from the side having that reach in is so important. It's fine to try not having it too. Everyone set up is different and what they're willing to put up with. A pickup is always a compromise, as is SUV.
Here's my idea for pickup expedition vehicles. It only works for one person, but anyway ... sleep in the back seat of the cab. No, not some funky diagonal thing like some people are building, but straight across the back seat. But how? It's not long enough for most people. You remove, modify, and/or replace one of the back doors to turn it into a slider/extender system. I guess it would be on rails and it would slide out somehow. What do you think? Do you think such an extender could be built?
... does that mean your feet are sticking out wider than the vehicle?
How do you make that waterproof? and mosquito proof? and bear and people proof?
If we're building a vehicle for just one person, a pickup is massive overkill anyway.
Get a Wrangler or 4runner or similar and sleep in the back of that without modifying anything.
@@TheRoadChoseMe Yeah, I know. Let's start by imagining something professionally fabricated. It has rails that pull out. It has a gasket around it same as a regular door for sealing. When it pulls out the space is expanded with canvas, similar to a pop-up camper or rooftop tent. The canvas is sewn and professionally attached to both sides. It is as waterproof as any rooftop tent. Maybe a little awning or roof goes over it to sheet water away. Bears are somewhat of a problem but there could be some guards for extra protection and the bear still has to get through the canvas. Presumably you have bear spray and a weapon in the car with you for protection, and you can escape out the opposite door if you have to (thus trapping the bear in your truck, hah!!!). I see it as waterproof, bug proof, and bear proof as a rooftop tent. Buying a 4Runner is an option, but there are reasons I have for exploring other ideas. It would be nice if there was something like this you could buy as a kit, and then when you want to sell the truck, you reverse the process, remove it, but the original door back on. It's fully reversible. I see it as a module. You just pop the door(s) off and put this thing in there. It's almost like having a DOT sleeper berth, but it goes inside the cab instead of on the bed.
@@TheRoadChoseMe To understand the motivations better, here's some conversations that go on. Me: I'm gonna build a sleeping platform in the Mazda CX-5. Wife. No, no. That's my car. You can't do anything to my car. Me. No, you don't understand. The sleeping platform is removable. Wife: It's my car. Me. I paid for the car. Wife. It's my car. Me: Okay, fine. I'll put a Project M on the RAM. Wife: No, no. I want to be able to use the truck to haul things and go to the beach. Me: If the Mazda is "your" car, doesn't that mean the RAM is "my" truck. Wife: No, it's my truck. Me. I paid for the truck. Wife: Mine. Me: Okay, fine. I'll buy a 4Runner. Wife: No, I don't want you to buy something you won't use very often. Just rent something. Me: Well, if I'm gonna rent something, I might as well just stay in hotels. What's the use.
On a VW Van I once used an aftermarket red fog light as a back up light - worked quite well, and the red light does help with your night vision. To be switched on, off course, not activated by the gear lever.
I appreciate the insight and appreciate the candid comments on the gear. It is probably one of the aspects of overlanding that everyone faces-there is no "perfect" solution!
If those are your only complaints, I would call that a huge win!
Nice work as always Dan, looking forward to your next adventure!
I think a full size SUV is the best way to live in a vehicle. Pickups are great for hauling loads and possible a camper but strictly speaking, living half inside the vehicle and half out makes things a bit awkward.
It's certainly a very good option Doug, but doesn't give much living space. Would you add a RTT or pop-up roof, or just sleep in the back and have no standing room?
Ah would have thought Kings drawers were heavy and a bit crappy? There are all sorts of options for drawers that are lighter and better built but as the saying goes you can choose from good, cheap and fast but only get to pick two. I hate drawers for the exact reasons stated, heavy, expensive and permanent. I’ve always gone for Wolf Packs and canvas bags. Lightweight, strong, easy to remove and not expensive
good vid tips want to do a tahoe - sequoia - armanda size wagon like to add a -pop up camper top
I've similar issues with my 130. Having so many different sections to the vehicle is the main issue for me especially in the winter. I think the ultimate solution would be a pop top camper like Globecamper. Unfortunately they are super expensive so I think I'll be building one myself.
I'm still trying to get my head around the fact it's kind of like two separate vehicles glued together. It messes with my head, and my organization.
Dan, it is obvious form follows function. Thanks very much for sharing your travels and we look forward to the next phase.
I think a steel roofed SUV is the best for what you do . everyone has Troopys . I would like to see the Grenadier . and ya i own a Jeep .
45 years hitting trails and I'm still not a fan of drawers. I've always done more with less...
Awesome as Always👍
Love your lessons learned. The more I go out and experience this hobby the more I learn.
I normally go weekends. 1-3 nights. Did 10 days out in Moab/ Colorado this summer. Learned a lot and messed up a bunch.
Tazer programmer kills the license plate lights when backing up to help with that issue.
After 3 months now with the aev suspension I’m in love with the setup. So much more concert and capability over the factory rubicon suspension.
Yay!
Thank you for this nice video full of tips and "thinkabouts" . Personally I 'm not convinced on the pickup model as an overland vehicle but I respect your choice. Best Regards, David.
I'm far from convinced too David - that's why I got one, so I could learn all of the pros and cons first hand and then make a decision on my next overland vehicle.
XO has experience packing as a team. Each member has an alu-box and they have a "flight bag" for connections. A travel partner might need to have less stripes on their shoulder than you.
Thanks Dan!
Overall seems pretty good! 👍 I think the things that you said are all very manageable
Love these lessons, good food for thought! Building a pickup as we speak, I've made some different choices (mainly budget related), but overall our goals seem very similar.
If you want your water tank to go down below where the spare tyre is, you should be able to fit the spare above the drawers in the bed. Main problem would be getting to them when you do get a flat, but I've solved that by having side access pannels in my canvas canopy.
My setup: 210L diesel and 85L watertank in the back of the bed, spare parts and tyres fit above that. Covered it in canvas canopy and put a cooking box in the front of the canopy. As soon as I drop the tailgate, I've got access to all of the cooking suplies (no drawers needed). My canopy frame is load bearing (actualy its the same tube as my rollcage x.x), so I've put a (softshell) rooftop tent on top of that. The great part is, that the rooftop tent doesn't extend above the roofline (defender 130), as the canopy didn't need to be high to start with.
Main downdside is that I cannot fit a batwing awning, as the canopy frame ends to low (and the tent rainfly irons extend out significantly (eezi awn jazz)), but if you went for a hybrid tent (like the iKamper roofnest) you would be able to fit a batwing next to that.
Shameless plug! steinar.offroad on instagram, feel free to hit me up if you got questions (goes for anyone reading this ofcourse). Anyway, thanks for the vid, you are a huge inspiration.
Great series. Very much enjoyed the videos.
Use a steel square tubing attached to the roof rack to move the batwing. Can't use aluminum due to fatigue limit issue. But this is a hell of lever, so requires an engineered design to avoid tearing the roof rack off.
Dan happy travels.
Cheers. 🍻
"Maybe I'll bump into you on the road"
Ever consider a dodgem-style bumper bar then?
thanks for posting, your comments about drawers is considered. you might want to check out our video on saving weight and space with 4wd/vans, for us we solved the same concerns with a unique drawer system.
Good review of what you did and didn't like as well. As a owner of 2 different pickups and few XJ's and a Wrangler to now a Gladiator, I didn't figure drawer's are a good thing. I use HD plastic boxes (stackable tool boxs) that are removable. The clothing situation is a issue still too for just myself I've been using dry bags for mine some I've been using for 25 years heavy duty but last and I can tie down on roof rack.
Nice honest review, looking forward to your next build!
Yes those drawers are the bottom of the market in Australia
About the drawers, I have a JLUR and was looking to put in one big drawer. I was eyeing one of the more expensive ones from one of the better know companies. My question is this: is the quality issue with your drawers because you got a budget draw system or is it just an issue with drawers in general?
It's a bit of both. Drawers are always going to add weight, and they aren't always volume efficient, but higher end drawers reduce those problems. Using wood or aluminium instead of steel can save you a fair bit of weight, and drawers that use something like Teflon slides have a lot less wasted space than bearings.
The only one I would call a mistake is the awning. And that really stems from the ragtopper. It's always been something I've disliked about the build. But it got you through so it's not a failure.
I think the other problem which doesn't help access to the tray is that there is no side access. One of the best things with a hard canopy is being able to open up side hatches and get easy access to the side and deeper parts of the tray. A hard canopy also solves your issue with not being able to put things on the top
Side access is an interesting one - with the larger tires and lift, it would have been impossible for me to reach over the side of the bed to get stuff off the bottom without leaning heavily on the side of the Jeep.. which means I'm covered in mud.
Katie wouldn't have been able to do it at all.
So while it sounds great, I think in reality it wouldn't have helped any.
Hi Dan. If u go down the custom ute build again. May I suggest a flat bed tray instead of a tub. In my set up I have 240 litres of under tray fuel storage. 120litres of under tray water storage. Under tray side mount tool boxes and an under tray rear access slide out draw. This leaves the back of the tray for what ever use u want. In my case I've built an aluminium frame to mount a roof top tent. Which is also strong enough to support a 270° awning and shower cubical ( also awning style ). I have left my tray open ( as it suits me atm ). But it could then be enclosed to make for a living space.
For sure that's an option - and a very popular one in Australia.
I shy away from it mostly because of the expense and weight.
Sounds like most of your problems would be fixed with a tray canopy sadly they are super expensive. Regarding drawers, as you say they are heavy but I have always avoided them as it would prevent the lid being used as a table because the drawers need that space to open. In my Amarok with tub canopy (came with the vehicle) I just use plastic tubs and access through the windows and do my cooking on the gate which works pretty well. Also regarding the awning, if you want to save some GVM look into the Snow Peak hexa tarp. They are huge, easy to put up and only weigh a few kilos. I love mine so much that my ARB awning is in the garage collecting dust and best of all I don't need anything attached to the roof anymore.
The gladiator is a excellent platform. I ha e o e that's built . It looks like all the mistakes are yours for sure. You need to start that built from scratch
I just spent a year driving it 60,000kms around Australia living in it full time. It has been a huge success, and a fantastic adventure. The opposite of a failure in fact.
Now it's time for something new & different.
If it's an Overland, why does it say Rubicon on the hood?
The clothes storage sounds like a royal pain in the ass, the rest seems all fairly minor so I'd definitely say that's a win. No setup is ever perfect.
You're happy with the sleeping system / living outside?
I covered that in the previous review video here: czcams.com/video/vjgw7Dqu39M/video.html
It is interesting to me the problems that you list with the pick-up tub. In North America, tubs are by far the norm. We don’t tend to live out of touring rigs like Aussies do. I have a question. Wouldn’t the tried and true tray and canopy setup work better and answer your concerns? I suspect it comes down to $$ being realistic. Here, in Canada, a Mits Alloy set up imported from Australia is about the same price as an A-Liner camper trailer, so it isn’t cheap. I wouldn’t do one pure;y for that reason. I wonder if a metal cap (vs canvas) with hinged doors on the side would work well? Water tank and pump could be at the front by the headboard and jerry cans and other bulky things could be accessed from the side with stacked tubs beside the fridge for storage. Just guessing here - I lack the experience to offer anything other than theoretical thoughts.
I think that kind of setup works fine for a "live outside" type setup, but for all those $$$ it gives zero inside living space to escape the weather or the bugs.
I personally don't think that is justifiable.
I like your canvas canopy. Did you custom build it or is there a manufacturer making them for the Gladiator?
Southern Cross Canvas in Melbourne made it for me. I heard they made another for a Gladiator too.
Thank you!@@TheRoadChoseMe
Flat bed tray and gullwing service body. Much better access from each side.
Without a doubt, though I would have spent as much money on that as I did on the whole Australia expedition.. so in reality I'd still be at work saving money and there wouldn't be an Australian expedition!
As always, an excellent and transparent of your various builds....pros and cons.
You might have answered this question before: Did you consider the AluCab / Goose Gear system?
They have an awesome water tank that is placed in the bed by the rear seats.
Thanks.
I did, but it's extremely heavy, expensive and hard to get here in Australia. During my build I think the waitlist was about 2 years... so I'd still be waiting right now!
@@TheRoadChoseMe Wow.....didn't realize about the wait time. Give you credit as to how you calculate the trade offs on budget and weight and more importantly, what makes sense.
The number one priority is actually going on the expedition, everything else is secondary. So for me, I have to keep the budget to something I can realistically afford, otherwise there is no massive adventure!
That is why my Overland equipment is my old backpacking and car camping equipment. It's already made for living Outdoors it's just not always as convenient to bring out and put back. Your videos inspire me. Thank you for all your videos!
Hi dan....do you use roro when you ship your vehicle? Thx
No, never. Always in a container. Reasons and full details here: czcams.com/video/nfXrj6J87Ts/video.html
Is there a link to the om606 mercedes deisel jeep jku build cant find it ?
I didn't film the build in great detail, there are a couple of shots of it in basically my first ever video: near the end czcams.com/video/4sLy5NEr-Hg/video.html
🍻
Solution to crammed space....overland a school bus🤓🤠😎
After seeing your friends and their "australian standard" rigs, would you consider going non-jeep in the future?
Oh, absolutely. I'll consider any brand that meets my needs and has the features I'm looking for.
Any reason u didn't go with a tray and a canopy. Sounds like that would of solved Most of your problems.from what I've seen some alloy trays are lighter then factory tubs .I just missed u in cairns seen the Ute but couldn't stop l.
Price was the biggest factor, and during my build there wasn't a company making one for the Gladiator, so it wasn't really an option.
No.mistakes dan...just changes....alterations...modifications.
Always Tom, lessons learned, forward progress!
So these things you regret… are they specific to the type of vehicle you chose and it didn’t fit the vehicle or these are things you would not want in any vehicle?
Obviously your regrets are based on the specific vehicle you chose which happens to be a pickup truck instead of a standard SUV so wondering if the regrets are based on your vehicle choice and what you tried to fit in there as mods did not work out as you expected when compared to your Wrangler or traditional SUV vs a pickup or as you Aussies call it, Ute lol
Absolutely, most of these are due to my lack of experience with pickups, and my not understanding how important the organization of the bed would be. I got one so I could learn, and learn I did!
@@TheRoadChoseMe Ah ok thanks. I was wondering if it was the vehicle choice to the options you chose you regretted or in general for any vehicle. Like your awning… that maybe a vehicle type choice problem.
The awning itself is fantastic, I just mounted it in the wrong place which was a cascading result of the canopy I designed and had built.
Many times small choices turn into larger consequences that are not easy to see from the outset, and I hope everyone can learn from my mistakes so they don't have to make the same ones!
@@TheRoadChoseMe Thx Dan. Yeah, your learning experience will definitely be valuable to the people who make the choices you made and what glitches you run into. Great videos from Australia btw.
Will the next car be a Jeep or another brand pickup?
Ideas, renderings and progress will all be posted to Patreon in the coming months
*cheap Chinese brand drawers …not Aussie brand drawers. Ya pay for what ya get.
Anyone not on their "first rodeo" in terms of setting up a touring rig, should be acutely aware that cheap drawers equates to too much weight (due to steel) and poor quality. Unclear on the reasoning for tainting all aussie made heavy duty drawers with what appear to be Chinese made Kings drawers (the cheapest on the market). As per the title of the video you've learned your lessons yet you're blaming a product which is clearly at the bottom end of the market. Maybe time for some further contemplation...Thanks for the content. Cheers
It's interested you would say that - after about 100,000 miles through 55 countries around the world I had never used or needed drawers before. So I was a beginner in that sense when I got to Australia, and had tons to learn.
That's the main reason I got a pickup actually, so I could learn.
No idea why you run Jeeps let alone in Australia! Landcruisers are the only viable option.
I've been over this many times, though it's pretty clear I've proven Jeeps to be a perfectly valid option.
@@TheRoadChoseMe You should have imported a Troopy into Canada. Would have been legit.
Did you see today's video? I go over the whole process in detail
Your first whole point.. is basically the gladiator is a shit design. Its WAY too long, a typically US mistake making things to big. You wouldnt have the issue with a normal ute.
This has been a great series Dan, but we have to get a boomerang lesson before you leave Oz. 🪃
I’m sure Sandy will be happy to get out of storage when you get back to Canada.👍